WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: The Husband's Secret

I bought this book last week, knowing nothing about it.
Haven't heard of the author either.
But boy, will I be glomming her now.

THE HUSBAND'S SECRET is an addictive, compelling read that had me losing sleep to finish it at 1.30am.
I couldn't put it down.

Vibrant characters.
Compelling conflicts.
Real-life dilemmas.

I loved it!

Highly recommend.

Weekend Book Club: Playing the Part

I became a huge fan of Robin Covington's books when I read her first last year, A NIGHT OF SOUTHERN COMFORT (Entangled Publishing's Indulgence series.)
The sexual tension simmered off the pages!

So I was honoured when she asked me to read her first Brazen book, PLAYING THE PART, to provide a cover quote.

I devoured it, quickly!

Here's the blurb:

After publicly self-destructing over a heartbreak a year ago, bestselling romance writer Piper James is now making nice with her publisher by agreeing to teach Hollywood's favorite action star how to act like he's in love. 
Only playboy Mick Blackwell has no clue what love looks like. When a seductive heat ignites between Piper and Mick, she jumps at the chance for a bit of fun between the sheets, but with two stipulatons: she's kept out of the public eye and things end when she returns to New York. 
Only Mick keeps changing the rules on her. Tempted by America's favorite bad boy, Piper is wondering how far she's willing to bend...

I loved this book.
Gobbled it up in one sitting.

Strong protagonists create major sparks!
Scorching hot!
Love the Hollywood movie and publishing tie-in background too.

An absolute page-turner.

What are you reading this weekend?

Weekend Book Club: It was Only a Kiss

You may think I'm biased in saying this, considering I write for Harlequin Kiss, but I'm absolutely hooked on this series!

It's fun, flirty and distinctive, with a lovely modern edge to all the books.
If you haven't tried one, please do. I'm sure you'll be hooked too.

I'm an avid reader and don't give 5 stars to every book, but this one thoroughly deserved it.

Here's the blurb:

The most distracting boss of all…...

For driven businessman Luke Savage success is the only option. So when gorgeous marketing intern Jess Sherwood waltzes into his office and casually informs him that his newly inherited vineyard has an image problem he's outraged! She's naive, overly ambitious, a know-it-all… And all Luke can do to stop her talking is kiss her senseless.

Eight years later the vineyard needs a boost—and Luke needs a hip new marketing strategy to save it. Jess may drive him crazy but she's the right woman for the job. Their only problem is how to keep their minds on work and off that kiss.

I'm hugely impressed by Joss Wood's third category romance. It's the first book of hers I've read and won't be the last. This book is sweet and sexy, with two strong-willed characters going head to head. Loved the sparks they created! And the secondary characters (the heroine's family) were hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. What are you reading this weekend?

Weekend Book Club: CRASH INTO YOU

I am neck-deep in deadlines at the moment...not a good time to start a book like CRASH INTO YOU.
Because I couldn't put it down.
Read it in 2 nights, staying up very late!

Here's the blurb:

Brynn LeBreck has dedicated herself to helping women in crisis, but she never imagined how personal her work would get, or where it would take her. Her younger sister is missing, suspected to be hiding from cops and criminals alike at a highly secretive BDSM retreat-a place where the elite escape to play out their most extreme sexual fantasies. To find her, Brynn must go undercover as a sexual submissive. Unfortunately, The Ranch is invitation only. And the one master who can get her in is from the darkest corner of Brynn's past.

Brynn knows what attorney Reid Jamison is like once stripped of his conservative suit and tie. Years ago she left herself vulnerable only to have him crush her heart. Now she needs him again. Back on top. And he's all too willing to engage. But as their primal desires and old wounds are exposed, the sexual games escalate-and so does the danger. Their hearts aren't the only things at risk. Someone else is watching, playing by his own rules. And his game could be murder.

I don't read a lot of erotica but couldn't stop reading Crash into You. Loved the strong character development, the intrigue and the unexpected plot twist at the end. Nothing sexier than a strong alpha hero and a strong-willed woman to match him in every way, even if she's his sub. The BDSM relationship between the hero/heroine was explored with tenderness, as well as being super sexy. Can't wait to read Jace's story! (which I just discovered is a RITA finalist in Single title romance this year: MELT INTO YOU.) Considering how great this book was, I'm not surprised! What are you reading this weekend?

Weekend Book Club: The Secret Wedding Dress

I've been a fan of Ally Blake's fun, flirty, contemporary romance novels for a long time and her latest, THE SECRET WEDDING DRESS, is just as good as the rest.

It is part of the new Harlequin Kiss series (which all my Harlequin books will be a part of going forward) and from the books I've read so far, it's a fabulous series!

Here's the blurb:

A wedding dress...but no bride!  Paige Danforth isn't interested in setting herself up for an unhappy-ever-after-thanks to her father's betrayal, the closest she'll ever get to walking down the aisle is as a bridesmaid. But one bridal sale later, Paige is left clutching her own champagne chiffon wedding dress! Clearly she needs to end her self-imposed dating drought.... 

Enter ruggedly sexy neighbor Gabe Hamilton. He wants Paige in his bed and nothing more-no promises made, no promises broken. But will this big, bad adventurer stick around when he discovers not only skeletons-but the wedding dress-in her closet?

I love reading books set in my fabulous home city of Melbourne.

Paige is ballsy and quirky, Gabe is flawed and incredibly sexy. The kind of hero who makes this gal want to trawl the Docklands in search of him!

Thoroughly enjoyed!

What are you reading this weekend?

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: The One That Got Away

For fans of the Harlequin Mills and Boon Modern Heat/Riva series (in the UK) and Presents Extra in the USA, you'll be aware that the fun, flirty books are now part of the newly launched Harlequin KISS series.

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY by Kelly Hunter was part of the launch line up in Feb.

It's no secret I adore Kelly's books.

Here's the blurb for this one:

"The man who's always left her wanting more!"

Good job? "Tick." Newly purchased apartment? "Tick." Evie's life is on a pretty even keel at the moment. The only thing missing? A man with an edge to keep things interesting.

Enter Logan Black. Tortured, distant and sexy, Logan has edge written all over him. He's also the man who tipped Evie "over" the edge a few years back - she gave him everything, but he didn't know when to stop taking.

Leaving Logan was the hardest thing Evie's ever done. Until now. Because Logan's back, the chemistry is as blistering as ever and this time he's not going anywhere....

Here's my short and sweet review:

Like the finest chocolate, it's rich, intense and satisfying.

I love a bad boy tortured hero and Logan is one of the best.

Could barely put it down.

Is this book as light as the cover? No. There are some dark themes touched on and it makes the book all the more tempting.

I think readers know that authors don't have much say in covers and if you're anything like me, you buy by author not by cover. And this is one book definitely worth buying!

What are you reading this weekend?

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: What Goes Around

WHAT GOES AROUND is Harlequin Mills & Boon Medical & Presents author Carol Marinelli's first foray into indie publishing...and wow! What a debut.

I devoured this book, couldn't put it down.

Here's the blurb:

“I’ve spent my life keeping my worlds apart and now they’ll all be coming together, in this very room. Everything that I’ve carefully separated will be curdling right here under this roof.”

What Goes Around…

Lucy thought she had firmly buried her past when she set eyes on and snared that sexy older guy at work. She gave no thought to the consequences when she swooped in and stole Gloria’s husband.

Twelve years on things couldn’t be better for Lucy. Well, his little problem in the bedroom department might need working on but surely it’s a small price to pay for a seemingly perfect life.

That is until karma wields its hammer and shatters Lucy’s fragile world…

Lovers of women's fiction will adore this book as much as I did. I write at night so sleep is precious to me. I happily lost sleep 2 nights in a row to finish this ASAP. The characters are real and flawed and memorable. A gritty read. Loved it! Highly recommend. You can buy it here What are you reading this weekend?

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Bella's Run

It has been too long since I've read any rural-lit. I love Rachel Treasure's books but has been years since I've read one.

Then I picked up Bella's Run recently and was hooked all over again.

Here's the blurb:

Bella Vermaelon and her best friend Patty are two fun-loving country girls bonded in sisterhood no blood could ever beat. Now they are coming to the end of a road trip which has taken them from their family farms in the rugged Victorian high country to the red dust of the Queensland Outback. 

For almost a year they have mustered cattle stations, cooked for weary stockmen, played hard at rodeos and danced through life like a pair of wild tumbleweeds. And with the arrival of Patty's brother Will and Bella's cousin Macca, it seems love is on the horizon too..

Then a devastating tragedy strikes, and Bella's world is changed forever. 

So she runs from the only life she has ever known. But can she really turn her back on the man she loves? Or on the land that runs deep in her blood?

It's a cracking book filled with real characters and real emotion.

It's poignant, romantic and funny, seamlessly weaving rural Australia and its lifestyle into an emotional story.

I loved it!

What are you reading this weekend?

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: The Wedding Season

I bought THE WEDDING SEASON at my local shops when the cover caught my eye.
It's stunning.

And considering the fun I had writing BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD and the incredible feedback I received from readers, I'm always intrigued to read any books featuring a cast of multicultural Asian characters.

Reading a book with no expectations, and knowing nothing of the story or author, is often great because there are no preconceptions.
And that's what happened with THE WEDDING SEASON.
I really loved this book.
It's funny and poignant and delectable.

Here's the blurb:

Meet Shani - she's thirty-two, single and has a job to die for. And she likes her life just the way it is, thank you! So why do her family and friends insist on trying to convince her that the only way to the perfect life is meeting the perfect man?
When Shani's horoscope miraculously reveals that now is the best time of her life for marriage, her mother decides to take control. As the Sri Lankan wedding season opens she turns a deaf ear to Shani's protests and arranges a parade of 101 potential grooms, in the hope that her shamefully unmarried daughter will salvage the family honour by finally finding Mr Right. But true life, like true love, can get very complicated. Amidst a riot of hilarious dates with would-be husbands, Shani has to cope with a minor Machiavelli at work, a house that is literally falling down around her ears, and a neurotic mother with serious cultural baggage. Worst of all, her best friend, who seems to have it all, is sliding into depression, and Shani seems powerless to help. Through a flurry of curry, cricket, sarees, and sumptuous ceremonies, Shani comes to learn that love comes in many disguises - and degrees of satisfaction - and that life is a one-shot game, even if you do believe in reincarnation.

I write at night to meet deadlines and don't get enough sleep, so I don't lose sleep for many books.
The Wedding Season is one book I sacrificed sleep for, unable to put it down in the wee small hours.

It's an enticing blend of multicultural chick lit/women's fiction/romance.

Shani is a 32 yo single Sri Lankan woman living in Melbourne.
She has loyal friends, an interfering mother and boy troubles.

I laughed out loud in several parts of the book, and loved recognising all the landmarks in my home city.

Have to admit, I was shocked when the book took a serious twist but even then I loved how the author developed the characters' relationships.

A really satisfying read, one I recommend.

What are you reading this weekend?

Weekend Book Club: A Night of Southern Comfort

There has been so much buzz surrounding Entangled Publishing's Indulgence series category romances that I've been dying to read them.
But I've been too busy with deadlines and launching my own EP Indulgence to have time.

This week I finally cranked up my kindle and read one of the many books waiting for me, A NIGHT OF SOUTHERN COMFORT...and WOW!
The calibre of this book is amazing...I can't wait to gobble up the other Indulgence novels!

Here's the blurb:

One night of passion... 

Detective Jackson Cantrell never imagined that one night with an irresistible stranger would turn his life upside down. He’s spent years living in the shadows, but Dr. Michaela Roarke awakened a passion inside him he'd buried years ago. 

He never expected the woman would turn out to be the governor's daughter...and his next assignment. The governor blackmails Jackson to secretly watch over Michaela and protect her from a stalker, or kiss his dream job at the FBI good-bye. Swearing to keep things strictly professional, Jackson moves in with Michaela. Too bad his heart can't keep the same promise. 

But when the stalker's attacks quickly escalate beyond mere photographs to bodily harm, Jackson must race to save Michaela's life. And he’ll have to figure out how to keep her once she discovers his lie.


I never gush about a book unless I really, really love it.

And boy, did I love this book!

I'm staggered that it's Robin Covington's debut novel...talking about setting the bar high!

In Kayla and Jack she has created two wonderful characters, well-matched in their independence and hidden vulnerabilities.

And the sexual tension between them? Sizzles off every page.

With wickedly hot sex and sparkling dialogue, this book was a winner.
I hated putting it down and can't wait for the follow ups with Teague, Lucky and Beck's stories.

More please!


What are you reading this weekend?

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Catch Me

Lisa Gardner is one author whose books I can never put down.

I have tight deadlines, I have kids, I have a hectic life, but I'll lose sleep devouring her books as fast as I can and CATCH ME was no exception.

Here's the blurb of her latest:

In four days, someone is going to kill me . . . 
Detective D. D. Warren is hard to surprise. But a lone woman outside D.D.'s latest crime scene shocks her with a remarkable proposition: Charlene Rosalind Carter Grant believes she will be murdered in four days. And she wants Boston's top detective to handle the death investigation.

It will be up close and personal. No evidence of forced entry, no sign of struggle. 
Charlie tells a chilling story: Each year at 8:00 p.m. on January 21st, a woman has died. The victims have been childhood best friends from a small town in New Hampshire; the motive remains unknown. Now only one friend, Charlie, remains to count down her final hours.
But as D.D. quickly learns, Charlie Grant doesn't plan on going down without a fight. By her own admission, the girl can outshoot, outfight, and outrun anyone in Boston. Which begs the question, is Charlie the next victim, or the perfect perpetrator? As D.D. tracks a vigilante gunman who is killing pedophiles in Boston, she must also delve into the murders of Charlie's friends, racing to find answers before the next gruesome January 21 anniversary. Is Charlie truly in danger, or is she hiding a secret that may turn out to be the biggest threat of all?

In four days, someone is going to kill me. But the son of a bitch has gotta catch me first. 

Catch Me is book 6 in the D.D. Warren series and shows the gritty Boston detective in a new light, as a struggling mother of a baby and the emotional fallout that entails. Really added to the depth of the character.

Lisa Gardner's thrillers are riveting.

She has a gift for weaving intricate plot points throughout the book without being obvious and her characters are realistic and appealing.
Her villains are flawed yet invoke sympathy, the sign of a brilliant writer.

If you've never read Lisa Gardner, do yourself a favour and pick up one of her books.

Highly recommend.

What are you reading this week?

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Exclusively Yours

I adore contemporary romance so was intrigued to read Shannon Stacey for the first time after hearing her Carina Press e-book Exclusively Yours hit the NYT bestseller list.

Once this book landed on my kindle, I was hooked! Shannon's voice sucked me into the story completely and made me laugh out loud several times.

Here's the blurb:


When Keri Daniels' editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job.

Joe's never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he's intrigued to hear Keri's back in town--and looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he'll grant Keri an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high school.

He proposes an outrageous plan--for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri can ask one question. Keri agrees; she's worked too hard to walk away from her career.

But the chemistry between them is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe's sister is out to avenge his broken heart and Keri hasn't ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri & Joe 2gether 4ever.

I'm a huge fan of contemporary romance authors like Susan Elizabeth Phillips (SEP novels rock!) and now have another author I will keenly follow.

Shannon Stacey's Kowalski family are addictive.
I read this book late at night in bed on my ereader after meeting deadlines of my own, and ended up getting little sleep because I couldn't put it down.

One of those wonderful romances you wish wouldn't end.

A seriously hot hero Joe (who's an author) and a career-driven heroine Keri (his first love) go camping with his family.
The results are hilarious and warm and lovely.

Looking forward to reading the sequels.

What are you reading this week?

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: How to Win the Dating War

I love discovering new authors and becoming hooked on their books.
Aimee Carson is now one of those authors.

I read How to Win the Dating War last week and it blew me away (especially as this is Aimee's 2nd book!)

Here's the blurb:

In the men’s corner.. Cutter Thompson – Miami’s hottest ex-racing car driver – believes that action always speaks louder than words. Participating in a celebrity dating competition, where his every text is analysed to death, is his worst nightmare! 


Flying the flag for the girls... Divorcee Jessica Wilson has built her life – and her dating service! – on the premise that communication is the key to happiness. Cutter might not think he needs her help to flirt successfully, but her professional radar says otherwise... 


But this battle of the sexes gets complicated by an intense, sizzling attraction! Will it be game, set and…match made in heaven?


This was my first book by Aimee Carson and I can sum it up in one word: WOW!

How to Win the Dating War is a sexy read with two mismatched characters that create major sparks.

Cutter has to be the hottest hero I've read in a long while. 
He's brash, blunt and incredibly drool worthy.
Jessica is a little prim and proper, and the perfect foil for his rough around the edges appeal.

The sexual tension sizzles off the page!

I loved every minute of this story and can't wait to read more from Aimee.


Highly recommend.


What are you reading this weekend?

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: No Dress Required

NO DRESS REQUIRED summed up in a word? Fabulous!

Part of the shorter 'Flirt' series for Entangled Publishing, No Dress Required packed a powerful punch and left me hankering for more.
No surprise it hit the USA TODAY bestseller list, it's a wonderful story.

Here's the blurb:

After years of ho-hum dating, Noelle Gregory is tired of fooling around. There’s only ever been one guy for her—Jake Conroy, her best friend’s older brother. Now that Jake’s back in town, she’s headed to his sister’s New Year’s Eve party to make her move. Purse full of condoms? Check. Sparkly dress guaranteed to show Jake the sexy woman she’s become? Check. Carjacker that makes off with both two hours before the party? Check.

When Jake finds Noelle stranded on the side of the road—looking sexier than ever in her striped socks and silly holiday shirt, damn it—he’s glad for the snowstorm that cancels his sister’s party. His and Noelle’s friendship has tormented him for years, and now, Jake wonders if he should dare to sample what he’s always wanted…and if he’ll be able to walk away when it’s over.

I devoured this in one sitting!

Absolutely sensational read!

Cari Quinn has a unique voice that sucks you into the story from the very beginning.

For a shorter read, the emotional and sexual tension between Noelle and Jake is top rate.
Love, love, loved the fireworks they created! Steamy yet sweet.
The kind of story I wished could go on forever.

I can't wait to read Jake's sister Alexa's story, in a longer format, yay!

Highly recommend.

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Fury

I hadn't heard of this YA novel when I picked it up.

The cover and the blurb sucked me in.

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...


Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.

Em and Chase have been chosen.

This book had me riveted. Could hardly put it down.

Intriguing premise, with revenge being the underlying theme.
Revenge with a paranormal twist!

The author nailed the YA voice perfectly too and the teenage angst really sucked me into the story. Excellent characterisation.

Very unusual plot twist at the end to lead into more books in this series.

Enjoyable read.

What are you reading this weekend?

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Flirting with Italian

I'm a huge fan of Liz Fielding's heart-warming Harlequin Romances and have to say the title of this one intrigued. Snappy and sexy!
Much like this wonderful book.

Here's the blurb:

Bag: packed. Flight: booked. Soon I'll be in Rome and experiencing life in a foreign language! Watch this space.
Newly single Sarah Gratton is determined to enjoy her holiday—could a just-for-fun romance with dark-eyed Matteo di Serrone be the answer? This Italian count is ideal flirting material—if Sarah's brave enough to make a move! Well, she might not be—but luckily Matteo is!
Matteo decides to keep this mysterious woman close—no hardship at all, given their spine-tingling awareness of each other. It's like something out of a fairy tale—until Sarah realizes she's made the most rookie mistake of all: falling in love with her holiday fling.

 I adore Italy and reading this book made me want to jump on a plane and revisit!


This book is lush with flavours and aromas and poignancy.

The emotional connection between Sarah and Matteo is natural yet sizzling, a riveting combination.

Liz Fielding has penned a beautiful romance, rich and evocative and sigh-worthy.

What are you reading this weekend?

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Rules of Negotiation

Last month, Entangled Publishing launched its new category romance series under the Indulgence imprint to massive success.

Inara Scott, a YA author for Disney and a lovely fellow EP author, was one of the launch authors with RULES OF NEGOTIATION.

Here's the blurb:

He let her make the rules…


NYC’s most eligible bachelor, Brit Bencher, is also known as The Slayer for his reputation in the boardroom…and the bedroom. And he’ll do anything to take care of his family, even seduce high-powered corporate attorney Tori Anderson in the hopes of getting her to reveal confidential information about one of her clients. But for the first time in his life, he finds he’s falling for a woman.


…and then he started to break them.

After juggling the demands of her career and the stress of caring for her ailing mother, Tori Anderson doesn’t have time for relationships—but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to feel like a woman. When Brit offers a no-strings attached fling, it sounds like exactly what she needs. But what will she do when Brit decides he won’t take “one night stand” for an answer? When Tori uncovers his lies, will he lose his chance with her forever?

If I had to use a few words to sum up Inara Scott's debut category romance, they would be 'category romance with substance.'


Inara pens a gorgeous, sexy hero in Brit, a hero with flaws who isn't afraid to admit them when it counts.

And the heroine Tori is a feisty, upfront heroine who I loved for her forthrightness, her confidence in her work and her vulnerability in her personal life.

Together, these two strong willed characters equal fireworks!

I laughed out loud at several one liners in this book, one of my favourites an example of Tori's forthrightness: she's mad at Brit, he asks if she's upset for a particular reason, her response:
"No, I'm upset because you're an asshole."

I love an honest heroine and Tori is all that and more.

A highly enjoyable read.

What are you reading this weekend?

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Doukakis's Apprentice

I hadn't read a straight Harlequin Presents novel in years and the positive reviews on this book made me want to pick it up.

I'm glad I did!

Here's the blurb:
Wanted: willing apprentice to handle indecently arrogant (but incredibly sexy) tycoon

With her family business in crisis, Polly Prince does her best to keep calm and carry on. But hard work alone can't save her London company from a takeover by the infamously ruthless Damon Doukakis...or her traitorous body from the lethal sensuality of her boss!

As his new apprentice, Polly accompanies Damon to Paris to negotiate the most challenging business deal of her life! Worse still, Polly must at all costs resist Damon in the most dangerously romantic city in the world....
 
What with writing and reading, I rarely get to bed before 1am and, my plans for an early night were shot by this book.
I'm always wary when there's hype about a book in case it doesn't live up to expectations.
This one did, and how!

Polly Prince is a standout heroine: ballsy, funny, quirky.

Damon Doukakis is a typical Presents hero: commanding, arrogant and super sexy.

Together? Fireworks!

Every now and then a book comes along that gives me writer envy. This is one of them.
Brilliant read.
Highly recommended

What are you reading this weekend?

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Liz Fielding's Little Book of Romance Writing

Welcome Liz Fielding to give us a brief insight into her brand new writing reference book, LIZ FIELDING'S LITTLE BOOK OF WRITING ROMANCE.

Begin your story at a moment of crisis, a point in time when your character’s life is about to change for ever.



— Mollie Blake’s Writing Workshop Notes from Secret Wedding by Liz Fielding

Mollie Blake is a woman who knows what’s she’s talking about. Well, obviously, I created her back in 2000 for my novella, The Secret Wedding.

How I wish I’d had someone like her around when I was starting out on my writing career. Someone to take me by the hand and ease me through the process of getting the story in my head onto paper. Explain about conflict, the importance of emotion, creating characters that the reader will care about. Alas, twenty years ago there were few “how-to” books to turn to in the UK, the internet had not been invented and I’d never heard the words “critique partner”. I didn’t actually know anyone else who was writing. I was on my own.

I learned by doing, by writing, being rejected, reading the writers I wanted to emulate. It was a long, slow and very steep learning curve but the one thing you need if you want to be a writer is single-minded determination. My fourth submission, An Image of You, was published in 1992 and, since then, I’ve had a wonderful career with more than sixty books in print.

My Little Book of Writing Romance is a straightforward writing romance primer. It’s the book I wish I’d had when I was fumbling through my first attempts at writing fiction and I launched into the world this week as a hand in the dark to new writers struggling with the stuff it took me years to learn. And when you make it into print, email me to share the joy.


Liz Fielding’s Little Book of Writing Romance is available from


PS – Molly Blake’s story, The Secret Wedding, is available as a free online read or you can download it for .99c from Amazon.

This is the kind of book I wish had been around when I first started writing ten years ago and was totally clueless!

As I turned the pages I found myself nodding often, as Liz provides excellent tips and examples for:
-dialogue
-deep emotion
-POV
-conflict
-grabbing the reader on the first page
-creating a four-dimensional world
-a satisfying ending.

This is a great writing resource, highly recommend.

Buy at Amazon US & Amazon UK

I have Liz's latest FLIRTING WITH ITALIAN lined up to read next on my TBR pile.
What are you reading this week?

WEEKEND BOOK CLUB: Walk on the Wild Side

I'm involved in several reading challenges this year (not that I need to be challenged to read!) and I've started 2012 off with a bang, buying Natalie Anderson's WALK ON THE WILD SIDE on my kindle (love the instant gratificuation!)

Here's the blurb:

A fling with sinfully hot champion snowboarder Jack Greene isn't Kelsi Reid's normal behavior…but one glimpse of his wicked eyes has Kelsi throwing caution to the deep blue sea (along with her clothes!). After all, who better to go crazy with than a man who deserves a gold medal for his prowess on the slopes and in the bedroom…?



Then Kelsi crashes down with a terrifying bump—of the baby kind. They couldn't be worse matched—Jack is Mr. Right-Now, while Kelsi craves stability. But it's hard to keep your feet on the ground once you've met the man who turns your world upside down...
 
Dating and Other Dangers set the bar for me with Natalie Anderson's novels (I gave it an unabashed 5 stars, it was fabulous!) so I can't help but compare all her novels to that one.


I loved Walk on the Wild Side (4 1/2 stars).

Sizzling sex scenes, great tension and realistic characters made this a page turner.
Loved the heroine's quirkiness and the hero's take charge attitude with an underlying soft core.
Jack is hot!

Thoroughly enjoyed.
 
What are you reading this weekend?